Gronkowski sheds walking boot but insists hes still day-to-day

By PAUL KENYON | | Journal Sports Writer

Tuesday

Jan 31, 2012 at 12:01 AM

INDIANAPOLIS — The first 20 or 30 times he was asked about his ankle on Tuesday, Rob Gronkowski gave pretty much the same pleasant, and perhaps predictable, answer. It was some time after that when the Patriots tight end seemed to get a bit frustrate

INDIANAPOLIS - The first 20 or 30 times he was asked about hisankle on Tuesday, Rob Gronkowski gave pretty much the samepleasant, and perhaps predictable, answer. It was some time afterthat when the Patriots tight end seemed to get a bit frustratedwith the constant questions.

Gronkowski's injured left ankle was a prime subject ofdiscussion on Media Day at Super Bowl XLVI, but there was nobreaking news involved. The big tight end, who set an NFL recordthis season with 17 touchdowns, remains unsure whether he will beable to play against the Giants Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

"I am just going day-by-day every single day," he said. "Workingwith training staff, whatever they ask me to do, that's all I'mdoing."

Does that mean he will be ready by Sunday?

"I don't know yet," he responded. "We are making new steps everyday and feeling better every single day. That's a positive sign.You just want to keep going in the right direction. I want to beout there with the team, obviously. I want to help out the team,obviously. I am just taking it step-by-step."

Gronkowski reportedly suffered a high ankle sprain when tackledby Bernard Pollard in the AFC title game at Gillette Stadium. Hisfather, Gordie, has said so. But, in keeping with the Patriots'method of operating, Gronkowski would not even confirm that. Whenhe was asked what a high ankle sprain felt like, he shot back, "Whosaid I had a high ankle sprain?"

Gronkowski paused and then said, "Let me give you one."

Gronkowski caught eight passes for 101 yards in the firstmeeting against the Giants. His loss would be a significantone.

If body language, which seems to crop up often with thePatriots, is any indication, he looked better than might have beenexpected. He did not wear the boot on his left foot as he has beendoing since the Ravens game.

At Media Day, the Pats came out on the field on the oppositeside of the stadium from where the speaker's platforms were set upfor players and coaches. Gronkowski, wearing sneakers, seemed tomove freely and easily as he came across the field and took hisdesignated spot. Wearing a white Super Bowl hat backwards, he wasjovial, as he so often is, especially when the questions did notinvolve his ankle.

"It's been a great season," he said. "It definitely wouldn'thave been able to get accomplished without the guys aroundme… We come together as a team. We accomplish things and weget things done."

He was asked if he has ever played hurt before.

"It depends on what hurt means. There's a difference betweenhurt, sore, a little banged up," he said. "If you are playing andyou're hurt, it's not that serious. . . If you are in the NFL, theway you got here, you definitely played hurt before in yourlife."

Gronkowski said he does not expect to have to wear the ankleboot again.

pkenyon@providencejournal.com

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